Aston Villa dangermen highlighted as Crystal Palace boss hails three Villa stars
Yesterday at 01:15 PM
No one could accuse Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner for failing to do his due diligence ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Aston Villa.
Because, speaking during his pre-match press conference, the Crystal Palace boss provided a detailed and in-depth explanation into Aston Villa’s approach under Unai Emery.
Their patterns of play, their dangermen, how they tend to set up in and out of possession.
Then again, knowing what Aston Villa do and stopping them from doing it are two very different things. Lucas Digne is in sparkling form at the moment, the Frenchman’s outstanding displays a big reason why Aston Villa cooled their interest in Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso, TBR understands.
Ollie Watkins, despite falling somewhat short of his usually sky-high standards, still has five goals in the Premier League this season.
And while Glasner is fully aware of the threat John McGinn provides around the edge of the penalty area, the movement of his Aston Villa teammates will more often than not open up the space the Scot needs to line up one of those trademark long range strikes.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner highlights Aston Villa dangermen
Crystal Palace can boast a victory over Aston Villa already this term.
Ebere Eze and Daichi Kamada found the net as The Eagles defeated The Villains on their own soil in the Carabao Cup. Emery rested the likes of Digne and Watkins that night, however, with Glasner expecting to come up against a stronger outfit at Villa Park.
“What [Aston Villa] are doing is always the same. Going from a back four in the build up to a back three, pushing the left-back high,” Glasner tells reporters.
“It was [Ian] Maatsen against us [previously]. We expect Digne tomorrow, playing with the left-winger more in the pocket. It was [Jaden] Philogene in the Carabao, we expect McGinn tomorrow.
“And always trying to find the players in the pocket, running in behind, with Ollie Watkins. Jhon Duran also is not a really bad player.
“So, that’s how they always play. We have prepared our players as good as possible. This is how they played against Brugge, this is how they played against Tottenham, this is how they played against us. The numbers of the players are different but their patterns are the same.
“So, in the preparation, you get a lot of things you already know.”
Unai Emery rules out four Aston Villa stars
Aston Villa, perhaps stretched by those Champions League commitments, slipped to ninth in the table following successive defeats by Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, are mired in the relegation zone with only one win to show from their 11 top-flight matches thus far.
Emery confirmed in his own pre-match presser, meanwhile, that Ezri Konsa, Amadou Onana, Boubacar Kamara and Jacob Ramsey are all unavailable this weekend. Matty Cash and Ross Barkley could, however, have part to play.
“Konsa, Amadou Onana, Kamara and Ramsey [are out],” Emery says. “We are adding other players after small injuries like Cash and Barkley.
“We are going to try to feel confident with the players we have in the squad, trying to be ready when the opportunity to play is coming for them.”
